Yarn furnishing device



5 Sheets-Sheet l May 16, 1939. R. H. LAwsoN ET Al.

YARN FURNISHING DEVICE Filed April s, 19:55

May 1 6, 1939.

R. H. LAWSON ET AL YARN FURNISHING DEVICE Filed April 3,' 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VI/A170195 aERTHZA W50/1g- PWM/AMLJMZH-m, 5y W07 5TM Arry.

R.H. LAwsoN ET AL 2,158,547

YARN FURNISHING DEVICE Filed yApril 3, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 17H72: ByC/@7 [KVEA/Taj? S.' RaBERIH 1m/.MAZ

May 16, 1939.

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Patented May 16, 1.939

UNITEDV STATES- PATENT OFFICE YARN FURNISHING DEVICE l setts Application April 3, 1935, Serial No. 14,492 In Canada August 28, 1934 23 Claims. (Cl. 66-132) This invention relates toa new method and mechanism for feeding yarn to needles of a knitting machine under a practically uniform tension. The invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a multi-feed knitting machine of the rotary needle cylinder type having latch needles,^however, we are not to be limited thereto since the invention is useful with any knitting machine wherein it is desired to feed a yarn l0 to needles under a predetermined and substantially invariable gtension.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the invention as applied to a rotary needle cylinderfmultifeed knitting machine, certain parts of the machine being broken away for the purpose of conserving space and showing the invention with as large a scale as possible;

Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the multi-feed machine and showing how each yarn passes about the feeding rollers, tensions, etc.; l

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the master drive for the feeding discs;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View showing how a yarn is drawn about one of the measuring wheels and thereafter through the feeding discs to the needles; and

Fig-5 is an elevation corresponding to Fig. 4.

Many attempts have been made to positively feed yarn to the needles of knitting machines, especially multi-feed knitting machines, by means .of intermeshing gear wheels which are driven at some predetermined speed. In all such devices a yarn must be fed which does not tend to deposit lint in the teeth of these gears thereby seriously affecting the feeding of the same; also, it is impossible to feed the relatively tender arti- Ai'lcial filaments commonly knitted, through such 40 wheels as they are likely to become crushed and damaged to a considerable extent. When feeding a yarn which is to be knitted into various forms of loops to make-fancy patterns or to be floated past a needle or perhaps several needles, yarn speed will constantly vary so that positively driven wheels which do not allow the yarns to slip between their surfaces will fail to feed said yarn at the proper speed or tension a great portionrl of the time. It is true that certain attempts have been lmade to automatically vary the feeding speed and tension by tension controlled adjusting devices, but for rapid and frequent variations such as occur when knitting and floating, such tension controlled mechanisms can not function properly. When stitch length isl to be changed it is also necessary to change these positively driven meshing gear wheels since they will notprovlde for any appreciable change in yarn feeding speed.

The method and mechanism herein described is capable of drawing yarn from a supply which 5 may offer varying resistance to being removed from such supply, and also is capable of feeding such yarn at substantially uniform tension under all conditions of knitting such as drawing plain stitches, tuck stitches or floating. This furnish- 10 lng device will also take care of yarn speed during any reasonable change of stitch length which it would be practicable to makein the conventional multi-feed knitting machine.

In Fig. 1 we have illustrated the invention as applied to a multi-feed machine having a circular base I, a rotary needle cylinder 2, a stitch ring 3, fabric supporting ring 4 and latch needles 5 reciprocating in tricks within said cylinder, said needles being capable of drawing plain loops, tuck 20 stitches or oating in accordance with stitch cams and pattern control mechanism, not shown. On vertical posts 6 extending upwardly l from diagonal corners of said machine is supported a spider built up of spokes 'I and a hub portion 8. 25 Within this hub portion is fixed a vertically depending spindle 9. Said spindle 9 also projects upwardly and supports a creel whereon are mounted yarn bobbins suiiicient in number to supply the needles of said machine at the several 30 feed points. Since they form no essential part of this invention the creel and supplies of yarn are not shown and said yarn is first shown at I9 as it passes downwardly through guiding eyes II and I2 mounted in discs I3, I4 clamped to spindle 9. These guiding eyes II, I2 are offset slightly to provide a small amount of tension in case the yarn tends to iiow too freely from one of the supplies, such being probable when the machine is suddenly stopped. To protect the mechanism 40 there-below a Celluloid disc I5 is attached directly beneath said disc I4. This prevents lint or other dirt from collecting upon the yarn speed indicating devices or the feeding discs which are to be presently described. 45

Eachyarn passes downwardly through guides I6 and I1 and about the periphery of a comparatively frictlonless measuring Wheel I8 mounted therebetween, then on through furnishing wheels to a yarn feeding guide I8. Said measuring 50 wheel I8 and its cooperating guides I6, I1 are permanently attached to a circular bracket I9 clamped by means of a set screw to spindle 9. These measuring wheels, their bearings, yarn guides I6', l1 and their supporting bracket are 5;,

Vmined speed so that in combination with discs I8 having similarly spaced apertures therein, the

relative speeds of yarn may be indicated. `\v

Master disk 20 is driven by means of a small friction wheel 22 which is mounted to rotate with a shaft 23. Friction wheel 22 is fixed to a hub 24 which is in turn fast to a sleeve 25, this sleeve being capable of sliding on spindle 23 but being clamped thereon by means of a set screw 26 which bears within a slot within the sleeve itself. This spindle 23 is rotatable within a bushing 23' at its inner end, said bushing being better shown in Fig. 3. At the opposite end said spindle is rotatable within an adjustable bearing 21 which is in turn carried in a bracket 28 whichy extends from an upright post 29 attached to the circular base. This bracket 28 also has clamped therein by means of suitable set screws, a spindle which carries a hub 30 freely rotatable on said spindle and also provided with an integral gear 3| and a sprocket which is driven by a silent chain 32. A collar 33 forming one end of a hub portion of gear 34 is clamped therewith tospindle 23 by means of a set screw. This colla-r and spindle 23 are maintained in axial position by engagement with a forked angular piece indicated at 35 and attached permanently to the opposite end 36 of U-shaped bracket 28. It may thus be seen that master disk 20 is driven by means of friction wheel 22, gears 3| and 34 and chain 32 which is itself directly driven from the speed change mechanism common to such machines. In case it is desired to vary the speed at which said master disk is to be rotated, sleeve 25 may be adjusted along spindle 23 so that friction wheel 22 will engage said disk at a different radial position. We do not describe this -master disk, its drive and the yarn driven measuring wheels to greater extent since they are fully disclosed in the applicants copending case, Ser. No. 663,183.

Again referring to Figs .'1, 3 and 4, a casing is built up of disk 31, a conical extension 38 and a cap portion 39. The disk 31 has a hub 46 which is fixedly attached to Vcentral spindle 9 by means of a set screw 4| and may be adjusted lengthwise of said spindle to properly position parts supported by thesev elements. The conical portion 38 fits aboutrsaid disk tightly enough to exclude dirt therefrom and to retain lubricant within the enclosure formed by the two, and also provides bearings for short spindles 42 and 43, see Fig. 4. The cap portion 39fits snugly withinthe inner diameter of said conical part and has a central hub which provides a support for bushing 23 which supports the inner end of spindle 23, and also two studs 44, one of which is shown, to carry freely rotatable disks 45 at their outer ends so that master disk 20 will be evenly supported at threeequally spaced points.

Spindle 23 also has fixed tof' its inner `end a bevel pinion 46 meshing with a gear 41. This latter gear has a hub .48 which rotates on a bushing 49, said hub being ma/chined to support a large bevel gear 50 which in turn drives small pinions 5| on each of the spindles 43. There are as many of these spindles 42, 43 as there are feeds on the machine and each of the spindles 42 is driven from its corresponding spindle 43- by means of spur gears 52, 53 mounted on spindles 43, 42 respectively. Gear 41 and its hub 48 are supported in a proper vertical position by means of a suitable thrust bearing such as is the casing and are freely rotatable in element 38, and also have fixed to their outer ends two feeding Wheels 55 and 56. These feeding wheels are preferably made of some hard material which has a fairly smooth surface. Metal has been used -with some success but we preferably make these wheels of .some fibrous material. The fibrous material exerts about the proper amount of frictional resistance upon a yarn which is drawn through guides and wrapped about said wheels in the form of a figure -B. For purposes of keeping the convolutions of yarn which are wrapped about the small feed wheels separated, they are formed with oppositely disposed conical surfaces, and further, the yarn indicated at I0, Fig. 4, passes through a porcelain guide 51 mounted upon an arm of a' bracket 58. The other end of this bracket has two friction disks 59 and 60 freely rotatable on a spindle 6I. A spring 62 is arranged `to adjustably press the upper disk against the lower thereby making it possible to vary tension exerted on said yarn as it is drawn between these disks. An adjusting nut 63 provides for varying tension as described. These tensioning disks are arranged to guide yarn l0 from the wheels 55, 56 in a different plane from that in which it entered. W'heels 55 and 56 have flanges formed thereon at both ends. When the yarn is wrapped around wheels 55 and 56 as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, it will be drawn from the supply Aand fed to the needles if the yarn itself is under tension on both sides of said wheels. The feeding is not positive in the sense that `one revolution of the said Wheels always results in feeding a definite amount of yarn, but said wheels are always driven at a speed at least equal to the maximum speed at which` it might be desired to feed yarn, and preferably, at a Vspeed slightly in excess of that maximum speed. The result is that there is always a certain amount of slippage between the yarn and surface of feed rollers and this slippage varies with the resistance exerted at the supply and according to the amount of yarn being consumed by the needles. In case the yarn runs freely from the cone and freely through yarn measuring Wheels I8, it will not be snubbed very tightly about wheels 55, 56 and they will not exert a maximum of tractive effort on said yarn. In case-the yarn should stick at the cone or should not run freely due to excessive friction at one of the Wheels I8, it will be snubbed about wheels 55, 56 tightly enough to be more or less positively advanced by the same so that the yarn may be taken by needles under" the same or substantially the same tension which it would have been taken had it run freely from the cone and had therebeen no undue friction in wheels I8. In case there should be any undue tension between the wheels 55, 56 and the needles the same principle applies.

snubbed about these feeding wheels from the reverse side and will thus be fed faster so that the tension on yarn between them and the needles will be relieved to a certain predetermined maximum. In case the yarn becomes excessively slack on this latter side of the feeding wheels the reverse applies, that is, the yarn running about said wheels will not engage them tightly enough to be very positively fed thereby so that the yarn will not be advanced until the undue slackness between wheels and needles or wheels and the tension discs, has been overcome. In actual practice these functions are being carried out continuously and smoothly, and the operation of our yarn furnishing wheels vis one which under all conditions of knitting, tends to draw the yarn from the supply and through the various guides to the needles under a certain predetermined tension which will remain substantially constant. The furnishing wheels supply the-yarn at a speed which would practically remove lall tension on that yarn as it approaches the needles; the tension disks then make it possible to put any desired amount of tension back into the yarn just before it reaches the needles. In practice just enough tension is applied to steady the yarn. It can be seen that our mechanism is suited to any of the common materials used for vknitting fabrics and the smooth surfaced Wheels 55, 56 cannot be aiected by lint gathering thereon since it will not stick to the surface and there are no teeth or crevices in which it may lodge; further, under conditions wherein yarn must be drawn at varying rates such as in knitting and floating, or while forming patterns of tuck stitches, the feeding will automatically take care of all such various instances. We do not depend upon any tension compensating mechanisms wherein the inertia of parts has to be overcome by the yarn before any change in feeding rates will be effective.

Such rapid changes simply cannot be followed by any tension compensating device which has moving parts.

Since the wheels 55, 56 are rotated at a speed in excess of the linear speed at which yarn is to be drawn, cliangesin stitch length which would necessitate an adjustment of the usual furnishing wheels or thesubstitution of others for them, will be automatically taken care of in the present instance. In case it is desired to tension the yarn a slight amount before it is taken by needles, disks 59, 60 are placed between the feeding wheels and the needles so that any setting of these disks will always effect a uniform tensioning of the yarn. Of course it is to be understood that our furnishing device may be used with. or without these tensioning disks, and is not in any way dependent upon nor is it to be used in all instances with the measuring wheels and master disk which are shown in this case. We simpl" illustrate the device in our multi-feed machine wherein these parts are commonly used. Many modifications may occur to those skilled in the art and we do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment of the invention herein shown, but are to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A knitting machine having needles and a source of yarn supply, means operatively positioned between the needles and the source of yarn supply consisting of two rotary posts about The' yarn will merely bewhich the yarn is passed and by means of which the yarn is drawn from the source of supply, the rotations of the posts being sulcient to draw the maximum amount of yarn required by the needles during the knitting operation and the construction and operation being such that when the needles require less than the maximum amount of yarn, the yarn is not in tight engagement with the posts.

2. A knitting machine including a. source of yarn supply and needles. a stationary supporting member positioned operatively between the source of yarn supply and the needles,` rotary elements carried by the said member and -companion to each of a plurality of feeding stations, the supporting member having a closed, lubricating casing within which are the driven ends of the Jrotary yarn drawing elements, a spindle within the casing and having mounted thereon a rotary driving element which in turn rotates the yarn engaging elements.

3. A knitting machine having a plurality of feeding stations and a source of yarn supply, yarn movable indicators individual to each of the feeding stations and in association therewith a master indicator, means for rotating the master indicator and the parts being so constructed that when the machine is knitting the relative rates at which two or more of the yarns are being knitted may be readily determined, said means for rotating the master indicator including a driven shaft and an element in driving engagement with the master indicator, a sleeve on the shaft and to which sleeve the driving element for the indicator is connected, the sleeve being relatively movable along the shaft and means for locking the sleeve in adjusted position.

4. A knitting machine having a plurality of feeding stations and a source of yarn supply, yarn movable indicators individual to each of. the feeding stations and in association therewith a master indicator, means for rotating the master indicator and the parts being so constructed that when the machine is knitting the relative rates at which two or more of the yarns are being knitted may be readily determined, said means for rotating the master indicator including a driven shaft` and an element in driving engagement with the master indicator, the element for driving the master indicator being in engagement with the master indicator at one side of its axis, an element in engagement with the master indicator and on the other side of the axis from the element for driving the indicator for supporting the indicator and preventing the driving means for the indicator from causing the same to cant or tilt.

5. A knitting machine having a plurality of feeding stations and a source of yarn supply, yarn movable indicators individual to each of the feeding stations and in association therewith a master indicator, means for rotating the master indicator and the parts being so constructed that when the machine is knitting the relative rates at which two or more of the'yarns are being knitted may be readily determined, said means for rotating the master indicator including a driven shaft and an element in driving engagement with the master indicator, a sleeve on the shaft and to which sleeve the driving element for the indicator is connected, -the sleeve being relatively movable along the shaft and means for locking the sleeve in adjusted position, the element i'ory driving the master indicator being in engagement with the master indicator at one side of its axis, an element in engagement with the master indicator and on the other side of the axis from the element for driving the indicator for supporting the indicator and preventing the driving means for the indicator from causing the same to cant or tilt.

6. A knitting machine having a plurality of feeding stations and a source of yarn supply, yarn movable indicators individual to each of the feeding stations and in association therewith a master indicator, means for rotating the master indicator and the parts being so constructed that when the machine is knitting the relative rates at which two or more of the yarns are being knitted may be readily determined, said means for rotating the master indicator including a driven shaft and an element in driving engagement with the master indicator, a stationary shaft supported axially of the machine and upon whichthe master indicator is supported ,in its rotary movements, yarn engaging rotary elements for engaging each of the several yarns and causing them to be drawn from the source of supply thereby relieving the needles from the necessity of drawing the yarns directly from the source of supply, the rotary yarn engaging elements being mounted in a fixed support which in turn is supported on the shaft, a driving element rotatably mounted upon the shaft and in driving engagement with the yarn drawing elements to eect rotation thereof.

7. A knitting machine having a plurality of feeding stations and a source of yarn supply, yarn movable indicators individual to each of the feeding stations and in association therewith a master indicator, means for rotating the master indicator and the parts being so constructed that when the machine is knitting the relativer rates at which two or more of the yarns are being knitted may be readily determined, said means for rotating the master indicator including a driven shaft and an element in driving engagement with the master indicator, a sleeve on theshaftand to which sleeve the driving element for the indicator is connected, `the sleeve being relatively movable along the shaft and means for locking the sleeve in adjusted position, a stationary shaft supported axially of the machine and upon which the master indicator is supported in its rotary movements, yarn engaging ro- .tary elements for engaging each of the several yarns and causing them to be drawn from the source of. supply thereby relieving the needles from the necessity of drawing the yarns directly from the source of supply, the rotary yarn engaging elements being mounted in a fixed support which in turn is supported on the shaft, a driving element, rotatably mounted upon the shaft and in driving engagement with the yarn drawing elements to effect rotation thereof.Y

8. A knitting machine having a plurality of feeding stations and a source of yarn supply, yarn movable indicators individual to each of the feeding stations and'in association therewith a master in cator, means for rotating the master indicator and the parts being so constructed that when the machine is knitting the relative rates at which two or more of the yarns are being knitted may be readily determined, said means for rotating the master indicator including a driven shaft and an element in driving engagement with the master indicator, a sleeve on. the shaft and to which sleeve the driving element for the indicator is connected, the sleeve being relatively movable along the shaft and means for locking the sleeve in adjusted position, the element for driving the master indicator being in engagement with the master indicator `at one side of its axis, an element in engagement with the master indicator and on the other side of the axis from the element for driving the indicator for supporting the indicator and preventing the driving means for the indicator from causing the same to cant or tilt, a stationary shaft supported axially of the machine and upon which the master indicator is supported in its rotary movements, yarn engaging rotary elements for engaging each of the several yarns and causing them to be drawn from the source of supply thereby relieving the needles Vfrom the necessity of drawing the yarns directly from the source of supply, the rotary yarn engaging ele'- ments being mounted in a fixed support which in turn is supported on the shaft, a driving element rotatably mounted upon the shaft and in driving engagement with the yarn drawing elements to effect rotation thereof.

9. A knitting machine having a plurality of feeding stations and a source of yarn supply,

yarn movable indicators individual to each of the feeding stations and in association therewith a master indicator, means for rotating the master indicator and the parts being so constructed that when the machine is knitting the relative rates at which two or more of the yarns are being knitted may be readily determined, said means for rotating the master indicator including a driven shaft and an element in driving engagement with the master indicator, a sleeve on the shaft and to which sleeve the driving element for the indicator is connected, the sleeve being relatively movable along the shaft and means for locking the sleeve in adjusted position, the portion of the master indicator engaged by the driving element having friction material 2l.

10. A knitting machine having in combination a yarn supply, knitting instrumentalities, and yarn furnishing means operatively interposed between the two, said means being constantly driven at a speed greater .than the maximum speed at which said yarn is to be fed, guide means for guiding said yarn onto said furnishing means about which it is wrapped a sufficient number of times to be eiectively engaged about the same and tension means interposed between the furnishing means and said instrumentalities, the construction being such that when the yarn furnishing means has drawn more yarn from the source of supply than is called for by the knitting instrumentalities the effective engagement of the yarn by the yarn furnishing means is automatically decreased.

11. A yarn furnishing device for a knitting machine comprisingl two oppositely driven, smooth surfaced wheels, driving means for driving one of said wheels at a predetermined speed and positive driving means between the two for driving the second wheel from the first at the same speed but in an opposite direction.

12. A yarn furnishing device for multi-feed knitting machines comprising a casing, a plurality of smooth surfaced, yarn engaging wheels projecting from said' casing, a master gear within said casing meshing with a pinion for driving each of said wheels, said master gear being driven from a suitable source upon said knitting maonto and from said wheel in di'erent planes.

19. A textile machine having a source of yarn 13. A method of furnishing yarn to the needles of a knitting machine including the steps of variably advancing a yarn and delivering it at a point adjacent said needles with substantially no tension imposed thereon, and then applying a predetermined and controlled amount of tension to said yarn just before it is taken by said needles.

14. A method of feeding yarn from a supply tol yarn receiving elements of a textile machine under a predetermined and comparatively uniform tension, including the steps of rotating an element at a peripheral speed in excesssof the normal linear speed at which yarn is to be fed, engaging the yarn about said element with a sufficient number of turns to effectively advance the same when under tension, and at the same time, keeping the convolutions of yarn separated as they'pass about the rotating element, and imposing a definite and substantially uniform amount of tension upon said yarn after it has left said element and before being taken by the receiving element or elements.

15. A method o'f delivering yarn or the like from a supply to receiving elements of a textile machine, including the steps of variably feeding the yarn or the like into proximity to said receiving elements with comparatively no tension existing therein, and thereafter applying controlled tension to ,said yarn before it is taken by said elements. y

16. A txtlle machine having a source of yarn supply and a rotary member for engagingv: and drawing yarn from the said source of supply, the effective drawing being variable as use proceeds, the engagement of the yarn by the yarn furnishing means being such that when slack yarn is produced by the yarn furnishing means, the effective surface engagement of the yarn by the'said 'yarn furnishing means is decreased in combination with means for maintaining a controlled tension upon the yarn.

V1'7. A knitting machine having a source of yarn supply and a rotary member for engaging and drawing yarn from the said source of supply, the effective drawing being variable as knitting proceeds, the engagement of the yarn by the yarn furnishing means being such that when slack yarn is produced by the yarn furnishing means, the effective surface engagement of the yarn by the said yarn furnishing means is decreased in combination with means for maintaining strands of the yarn in a separated relation to avoid entanglement.

18. A knitting machine having a source of yarn supply and two oppositely tapered rotary members to maintain strands of the yarn separated and for drawing yarn from the said source of supply, the effective drawing being variable as knitting proceeds, in combination with means for maintaining strands of the yarn in a separated relationto`avoid entanglement.

supply and a rotary member for' engaging and drawing yarn from'the said source of supply, the eective drawing being variable as knitting proceeds, the engagement of the' yarn by the yarn furnishing means being such that when slack yarn. is produced by the yarn furnishing means, the effective surface engagement of the yarn by the said yarn furnishing means is decreased in combination with meansfor maintaining strands of the yarn in a separated relation to avoid entanglement.

20. A textile machine having a: source of yarn supply and'two oppositelyy tapered rotary members to maintain strands of the yarn separated and` for drawing yarn from the said source of supply, the effective drawing being variable as knitting proceeds, in combination with means for maintaining strands of the yarn in a separated relation to avoid entanglement.

21. A method of feedingyarn to fabric forming or textile machines including the variable feeding of a textile yarn to fabric forming elements of the textile machine, the variable feeding of the yarn being effected by variation of the effective contacting surface between the yarn and a driven rotaryvelement, and subjecting the yarn to a variable tension before passing to the elements of the Ytextile machine,`the rotations of the element and the engagement of the yarn by said rotary element being such that when slack yarn is produced by the yarn furnishing means, the effective surface engagement ofthe yarn by the said yarn furnishing means is decreased.

22.v A knitting machine having a source of textile yarn supply and knitting elements, variable yarn furnishing means in engagement with the `yarn and, operatively positioned between the source of yarn supply and the knitting elements, the engagement of the yarn by the yarn furnishing means being such lthat when slack yarn is produced by the yarn furnishing means, the effective surface engagement of the yarn by the said yarn furnishing means is decreased, and adjustable means operatively positioned between the yarn furnishing means and the knitting elements for imposingvariable, controlled tension upon the yarn.

23. A knitting machine having a source of yarr supply. yarn furnishing means, and knitting elements, operatively positioned in that order, anc means associated with the yarn furnishing mean: for maintaining adjacent strands of the yarn ir a' separated relation to avoid entanglement, the yarnfurnishing means including a rotary elemenl rotating at constant speed which has variable effective contact with the yarn so that the yarr furnishing means always furnishes suiicient yarr to the knitting elements.

ROBERT H. LAWSON. l WILLIAM L. SMITH, Jn. 

